Milky Way and the Local Volume

Galaxies are complex systems made of stars, gas, dust, and other components (such as mysterious “Dark Matter”). The “Milky Way and the Local Volume” research section studies the Milky Way galaxy and its nearest neighbouring galaxies. These galactic stellar systems are near enough to be studied in great detail, star by star.

Of prime importance is the study of the Milky Way, the only galaxy we can fully map in 3D. The largest spectroscopic and astrometric surveys of the Milky Way are helping us to understand the structure and formation history of the Milky Way. Extensive imaging surveys of nearby disk galaxies allow us to resolve their stellar outskirts and to deduce their stellar accretion history. These observations are analysed with the latest chemical evolution models of the Milky Way, with dynamic models of galaxies of all sizes, and with models of galaxy formation in full cosmological context. Even though these objects of study are near enough to be investigated in great detail, understanding the formation of galactic systems as a whole, not just their individual elements, remains the goal.